Tag Archives: my creative garage

I’m joining in on all the excitement surrounding the launch of Lisa Cook’s new book; Delicious Crochet Shawls, 21 stylish crochet shawls. Did you see the Peaches and Cream shawl that @angelala242 shared on Instagram yesterday? Gorgeous, isn’t it!

All of September you’ll have seen gorgeous photos and projects from instagrammers and bloggers all over the world sharing their love for this new book and I’m no different.

This book is Lisa’s first; you know her as @lisasattik on Instagram, and you likely have at least one of her gorgeous patterns in your Ravelry library.

You can buy the book on Book Depository (my favourite bookstore) here*, or Amazon here*.

I decided to make the cover girl shawl, Berry Lime Pie, using a skein from my stash (gorgeous 4ply yarn from one of my fave indie dyers, Vanessa at My Creative Garage).

Because this is a single skein pattern, it’s the perfect size for a small person, and I just happen to have the perfect small person on hand to model it!

C’mon, Vogue..?

I love the open stitches and the shape. This particular pattern worked up very quickly. It could easily be done during a long car trip or a flight.

I thoroughly recommend this book, it is filled with patterns for beginner through to advanced crocheters, with extensive written instructions and outstanding charts and the sweet eats theme is just a lot of fun.

I also loved that I could stash dive to make my shawl; sometimes it can be so frustrating when you find a pattern you love, but are missing a ball or two, or just don’t have the right weight in the right colour. As if I need an excuse to go yarn shopping, but still!

Up next in the blog tour is Sweet Sharna. You know her from instagram, of course. Be sure to follow her here and check out which shawl from the book she has been working on tomorrow!

Like this:

A couple of months or so ago I came across a brand new podcast on youtube by my Insta-friend Vanessa Kind andshe introduced me to the wonderful indie dyer Dingo Dyeworks. I fell head over heels with all the yarns and colourways – you know how much I love a good merino yarn.

When I visited the site I was overwhelmed. How could I possibly choose between all these amazing yarns?! But then I saw Winterlight.

I love the Fair Dinkum range, it carries the NewMerino certification, which is a an Australian initiative promoting 100% traceability, sustainability and ethical treatment.

The hardest decision was then what else should I get? Because the yarn was coming all the way from Perth, I couldn’t just order one skein – it’d be a waste right?

In the end I settled on some Fair Dinkum ultrafine fingering in Blue Gum. Blue gums have the most incredible scent. In the region I grew up in, about 20 years ago graziers started cashing in on the blue gum boom, selling their land for a thousand dollars an acre (insane money) to be replanted with blue gums. All of a sudden I was living in a forest instead of farmland, it was strange how the landscape changed so rapidly.

So the blue gum is something familiar, and a lovely colourway, so it fits. I have a project in mind, another Meg Gadsbey design called Minnamurra. Aren’t all these Australian names awesome? It makes me a bit homesick to be honest. I think my obsession with merino is something that I use to keep me connected, do you know what I mean?

I absolutely loved making Winterlight. The pattern is perfect for someone like me who doesn’t class themselves as a “knitter””- although I do now! It’s also just beautiful, so that’s reason enough!

I can’t wait to make another one. But I have a to-do list and WIP list that is longer than my arm, so it’ll have to wait a bit.

And finally, do check out Vanessa’s great podcast on Youtube. Although, lock up your wallet; she’s a bad influence!